2009 Classes We have not finalized plans for our 2010 classes yet, but here's a glimpe of what we offered last year!
Students are encouraged to register early to ensure a place in the class as some classes have limited availability. A full payment is required at the time of registration.
Confirmation of your enrollment and registration will be sent to you via e-mail from Lost River Artisans Cooperative. To register call Lost River Artisans at 304-897-7242, stop by the Barn to fill out a registration form, or download a form from the link above for mailing.
Check regularly for updates and new classes
Call the cooperative or email lrac@hardynet.com if you have questions about the classes.
May
Medium Market Basket Weaving
Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Explore and learn basic basket weaving skills while creating a 6.5" x 4" medium market basket. Students will weave the basket on a swing handle and decorate with colored reeds of their choice and different sizes of decorative stripes.
Basic weaving skills, twining, splicing reeds together, and finishing the basket with a flat oval rim will all be covered in this class.
Instructor: Debbi Zvanut, guest basket maker
Cost: $38.00
Includes: All reed & basket materials (extra kit may be ordered for an additional $12)
Medium Melon Basket Weaving
Saturday, May 30 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Handwoven ribbed baskets are regionally known as melon, egg, buttocks, fanny or gizzard baskets. Our students will create a traditional ribbed melon basket. Weaving skills include securing two hoops together, learning to make a God's Eye, cutting and adding ribs, designing with natural and dyed flat reed, and using sea grass as an accent.
Instructor: Debbi Zvanut, guest basketmaker
Cost: $38.00
Includes: All reed and basket materials (extra kit may be ordered for an additional $15).
Students need to bring 10 clothespins, garden shears, towel and measuring tape
June
A Weekend with Watercolor Artist Lynn Ferris
Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14
This intensive two-day watercolor workshop, suitable for all ability levels (some experience with watercolor suggested) will focus on the use of light and layers. The subject matter will vary, but students will find themselves painting with luminosity and drama. Lynn provides reference material and a great deal of individual attention.
Lynn Ferris has been awarded signature membership in the Baltimore Watercolor Society and the Potomac Valley Watercolorists. Her work was the subject of a feature article in "Watercolor Magazine" and has also appeared in "Watercolor Magic." In 2007, she received the top award at the Florida Watercolor Annual Exhibition. Her work has won numerous awards, she has had many solo shows and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Florida. Students will gain insight through Lynn's command of the process as she generously shares her knowledge.
Saturday, June 13
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
= Lunch=
1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 14
9:30 a.m. to noon
= Lunch=
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Students must bring their own watercolors, paper & painting supplies
Chair Caning
Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn how to weave a cane seat in this one-day workshop!
Dating back to Roman and Egyptian times, caning is the fine art of hand-weaving a new chair seat. This process is still used in furniture making.
Claude shares his extensive knowledge and students will learn about pre-woven cane, strand cane, rattan reed, paper rush, natural rush, ash and oak splint, Danish cord, Oriental sea grass, proper reed handling techniques, the process of soaking reeds, as well as the right side and the wrong side of the reed. Designs and patterns will be explored as students weave, create, and finish a chair in this class.
Instructor: Claude Kellams, woodworker, Lost River Artisans Cooperative member
Cost: $68.00
Supplies: A chair to take home and caning materials are provided
Students need to bring scissors, bucket, medium flathead screw driver & small awl (a spike on a wooden handle).
July
Design an Eclectic Birdhouse
Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. until . . .
Students will choose precut pieces to design and create an eclectic birdhouse for their favorite feathered friends. Discussions of construction, basic woodworking techniques, and design concepts will be covered while assembling a work of art!
Bring found/recycled objects such as bottle caps, church keys, spigots, license plates, forks, jewelry or any items that can be used to decorate and make your birdhouse a one-of-a-kind creation. (Hint: a "found object" excludes merchandise in retail stores.)
Instructor: Bob Alcock, woodworker, Lost River Artisans Cooperative member
Cost: $40.00
Enrollment limited to 12 adults.
Wood supplies are included; students encouraged to bring cordless drills/screwdrivers, hand saws, hammers, tape measures, pencils and imagination.
August
A Weekend of Nature & Landscape Photography with Frank Ceravalo
Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9
Join renowned West Virginia photographer Frank Ceravalo in this two-day, hands-on journey into the world of nature and landscape photography.
In this class, students will gain technical knowledge of digital photography, types of cameras, megapixels, white balancing, RAW file formats, functions of differing lenses, organizing and storing files, and adjusting/editing images in programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
In-depth discussions will be held on photographic composition, design and light, comparisons of 35mm and digital work, times of day to shoot, and composing the photograph through the camera lens and on the computer.
The class also involves field work.
Instructor: Frank Ceravalo, photographer, Lost River Artisans Cooperative member
Cost: $100.00 per student
Class size is limited to 12 students
Saturday, August 8
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with a lunch break)
Sunday, August 9
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a lunch break)
Note: Frank has generously made it optional for students to "tag along" with him on Saturday evening or early Sunday a.m. to shoot the sunset or sunrise.
Supplies: Students must have their own digital camera and comfortable clothes and proper shoes for fieldwork.
Natural Fiber Dyeing Workshop
Saturday, August 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Discover and create with nature's color sources as Priscilla Blosser-Rainey shares her extensive expertise and knowledge of plant and natural dyes. In this "stained hands-on" workshop, students will use August flora to test and dye wools, hand-spun fibers, and create recipes produced with alum and tartaric acid. Create a color palette using goldenrod, zinnias, marigolds, onion skins or black walnuts to produce lightfast and washfast oranges, yellows and browns with a range of value and intensity.
Students will learn to prepare the dyes and mordant as well as dye protein fiber while experimenting with color using postmordant baths, afterbaths and exhaust baths along with the value of keeping explicit notes.
Instructor: Priscilla Blosser-Rainey, fiber artist, Lost River Artisans Cooperative member
Cost: $48.00
Note: Lunch is included in the price ~ Compliments of our friends at The Lost River General Store
Supplies: All provided
Location: Summer House, The Inn at Lost River (walking distance from the cooperative)
NEW DATES ! Stained Glass
Saturday, August 22 & 29 (Two Sessions) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Students will discuss color, light, texture, and opacity, as well as the uses for different types, qualities, and functions of glass. Students will practice cutting glass, laying out a pre-cut pattern, grinding glass, the techniques of copper foil application and soldering in the two-day sessions.
On the second day, students will travel to a working stained glass studio to add a patina to their piece.
All students will complete and take home a ready-to-hang stained glass masterpiece for their home.
Instructor: Dan Blumhagen, glass artist, Lost River Artisans Cooperative member
Cost: $48.00 per student
Supplies: All glass materials are provided. Students must bring their own apron, bucket and brush.
Explore and learn basic basket weaving skills while creating a 6.5" x 4" medium market basket. Students will weave the basket on a swing handle and decorate with colored reeds of their choice and different sizes of decorative stripes. 
Handwoven ribbed baskets are regionally known as melon, egg, buttocks, fanny or gizzard baskets. Our students will create a traditional ribbed melon basket. Weaving skills include securing two hoops together, learning to make a God's Eye, cutting and adding ribs, designing with natural and dyed flat reed, and using sea grass as an accent.
This intensive two-day watercolor workshop, suitable for all ability levels (some experience with watercolor suggested) will focus on the use of light and layers. The subject matter will vary, but students will find themselves painting with luminosity and drama. Lynn provides reference material and a great deal of individual attention. 
Learn how to weave a cane seat in this one-day workshop! 
Students will choose precut pieces to design and create an eclectic birdhouse for their favorite feathered friends. Discussions of construction, basic woodworking techniques, and design concepts will be covered while assembling a work of art! 
Join renowned West Virginia photographer Frank Ceravalo in this two-day, hands-on journey into the world of nature and landscape photography.
Discover and create with nature's color sources as Priscilla Blosser-Rainey shares her extensive expertise and knowledge of plant and natural dyes. In this "stained hands-on" workshop, students will use August flora to test and dye wools, hand-spun fibers, and create recipes produced with alum and tartaric acid. Create a color palette using goldenrod, zinnias, marigolds, onion skins or black walnuts to produce lightfast and washfast oranges, yellows and browns with a range of value and intensity.
Students will discuss color, light, texture, and opacity, as well as the uses for different types, qualities, and functions of glass. Students will practice cutting glass, laying out a pre-cut pattern, grinding glass, the techniques of copper foil application and soldering in the two-day sessions. 